Longtime Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver said he doesn't plan to run for another term in office. He plans to retire, he said.

After serving on the council since 1997, he said, "I want to go home and sit down."

The councilman, who is 67, has faced health problems in the past few years and recently underwent colon surgery.

McIver has also found himself in a number of politically difficult spots in the past couple of years. He was arrested in 2007 after his wife reported he had assaulted her. The charges were dropped.

Also, last year, the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission fined him $1,000 for violating the city's conflict-of-interest law. He initially tried to pay the fine with city money, garnering even more controversy, before paying out of his own pocket.

McIver's announcement ensures at least one open seat in this year's City Council elections. Council President Richard Conlin has announced he will run again, but members Nick Licata and Jan Drago have not announced whether they will run for re-election.

McIver's open seat has attracted one candidate, so far: former Nickels advisor Jordan Royer. Eleven other candidates have filed to run for City Council without saying which seat they are seeking.